WARNING: Ireland wakes up to sub-zero temperatures similar to 'Beast from the East'

Ireland has been plunged into sub-zero conditions by an Arctic air mass likely to bring the coldest weather since Storm Emma over four years ago.

The bitter airflow will bring daytime temperatures of around freezing with night-time temperatures likely to dip to -6C and colder in places.

This could bring snow to parts of the country and hail, sleet and freezing rain to other areas.

Temperatures were down as low as -5.5c in Millstreet in Cork on Thursday morning. 

Forecaster Alan O'Reilly said: "The latest weather charts keep us in the cold up to the 15th at least. After that remains uncertain with weather models not in agreement.

"Some prolong the cold even longer out to the end of next week. There is also a risk of a storm meeting the cold air which could deliver snow.

"The risk of snow would be on the edge of storm and so the track of the storm is very important to watch."

One weather models brings the risk of heavy snow in the Southwest but other models bring rain or keep it away from us.

Alan said on Thursday, there will be wintry showers moving down from the North with a risk of a dusting or a little more on higher ground. Also a risk in the East on Thursday evening of wintry showers.

Freezing fog, black ice and wintry precipitation will make travel more precarious, particularly at night.

Met Éireann has issued Status Yellow warnings for low temperatures and icy conditions and is forecasting severe frost and ice up until next Monday, with uncertainty beyond that.

Temperatures in the country plummeted to -9C in early March 2018 after what was dubbed “the Beast from the East”, and similarly bitter conditions are expected in the coming days.